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Francis shelled as Giants sweep Rockies

Colorado loses ninth straight to San Francisco

By Troy E. Renck The Denver Post

Posted:
04/10/2013 11:03:23 PM MDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the sixth inning of Giants home games, a video airs on the Jumbotron showing how the team's latest World Series ring was crafted. The design reflects the club's resilience and the city's baseball passion. There are postseason scores on one side and a cable car on the other. It would be more accurate if the Rockies were underneath the caboose, with tracks across their chest.

The Rockies have never been good in San Francisco, and in recent years have become a homecoming game at AT&T Park.

They were clobbered 10-0 Wednesday afternoon, the Giants completing a sweep that revealed the chasm between the division rivals.

"Obviously our goal is to win the division. To win it, you have to play well against those teams, especially the best one," outfielder Michael Cuddyer said. "Some teams just have your number. And they obviously got us. But we have plenty of games left against them."

The beauty of baseball is that the schedule is longer than Dead Sea Scrolls, so adrowning at McCovey Cove can be rationalized. It's one series. A snapshot in an Instagram slideshow. But this series hurt, as evidenced by the body language in the clubhouse, which included a few slammed backpacks and hurried exits.

Reliever Matt Belisle, who pointed the finger in the mirror for Tuesday's loss, said the Rockies needed to make a statement in the finale.

Abject failure, it can be assumed, wasn't what he had in mind.

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Boxing promoter Don King could not have arranged a better opponent for the Giants. They have won nine consecutive against the Rockies at AT&T Park. They have outscored them by 65 runs in that stretch. They have won nine consecutive games overall against Colorado. If that sounds remarkable, it's because it is, ranking as the longest current winning streak for any team against a division rival, according to Elias Sport Bureau.

"They are definitely a good team that's given us trouble," starter Jeff Francis admitted after one of the worst starts of his career.

This series, frankly, said more about the Giants than the Rockies. The Giants don't have a lineup that overwhelms anyone. But that's more a function of their spacious ballpark than talent. Giants' hitters deliver meat-grinder at-bats, making consistent contact while exercising patience.

"We talked about before the series how they weren't going to be aggressive like the Padres. You have to throw strikes," Francis said. "Obviously, I wasn't able to make pitches when I need to."

Francis lasted just five outs, his shortest outing ever, and left trailing 7-0. A mistake on a bunt proved catalytic in the second inning -- catcher Wilin Rosario yelled to throw to third when there was no play. But that was hardly to blame, said Francis.

Buster Posey doubled and tripled off the left-hander. Staked with a two-run lead in the first, Giants' starter Barry Zito was a sure thing. The Giants have won 16 consecutive games he's started, and he owns a six-game winning streak against Colorado.

That's who the Giants are. Their starting pitcher is better than Colorado's starting pitching. They produce their best at-bats in the game's biggest moments. They have a matchup bullpen that features three dramatically different left-handers and a battery of right-handers with diabolical sliders.

They are much better than the Rockies. Colorado's solace? It was just one forgettable early season series.

"It's really early. Shoot, what are we 5-4?" shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "We didn't do what we wanted to here, but we can go to San Diego and win a series and be in a good spot going home."

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